Wrapping machine



NOV- 28, 1944- R. R. BRIGHTWELL. 23635939 WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sepb. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Tcl- INVENTOR y Robe?? Hol and E715/k Z'wZZ ITNESSES Nov.

R. R. BRIGHTWELL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28, 1944 WRAPPING MACHINE Robert RolandBrightwell, Philadelphia, Pa., as- `signor to Stephano Brothers, Philadelphia, Pa.,

. a corporation of Pennsylvania Applicatin september 5, 1941, serial No. 499,629

((11.93-6) y `shown in my Patent No..2,l44,448, granted `on 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved Wrapping machine and particularly to a wrapping machine 4having a device for slitting one `or more edges of the wrapper while it is being wrapper around `the `article so as to facilitate the opening or re `moral of the wrapper.

`Various articles, such as ,cigarette packages, arewwrapped in sheet material made of regenerated cellulose or some plastic material such` as Cellophane, Glassine or the like." Itis fre-` quently di'icult to remove the wrapper fromthe package because the smooth unbroken edge of such wrapping material oifers resistance to tear- I. ing. The removal of the Wrapper can `be greatly n b lwhich the packages are fed by means of the refacilitated byrforming small slits or notches in one or more of the exposed edges thereof since the materialmay be readily fractured and the` vide improved `apparatus for `forming .slits .on notches in one or 4more of the exposed `edges of I 10 I.portions ofthe illustrated machine comprise the the wrapper while it is beingA wrapped around wrappers incorporated therein which is of relatively simple construction and which will operate for a long period of time With comparativefreen `35.. packages the cigarettes.

held in advance position` by means of a spring i dom from wear. I

In the accompanying drawings Fig.` 1 is a sectional view through a wrapping machine incorporating `a device fornickingv channel-shaped guide 5 through which the `packages` 6 arefed into the machine and the channel-shaped guide .'I communicatingwith one side i ofthe guide 5 at right angles thereto and through ciprocating plunger whichis caused to recipro-` `cate by the arm 9 pivotally ,connected at its upper end by means of a slottedconnection to` the .plunger .and lpivotallymountedat an inter- 120;,mediate point `I0 on theframe ofthe machine.`

The arm 9 is pivotedat its` lower end` II by means cfa slotted connection to thearm I2 which, inturn,` is pivotedto the machine `atits central portion` I4 andpivotally` connected at its 25.1ower` end by means ofa slotted connection I5 which `en- 30 .connected to the main drive shaft 2l ofthe ma- .Fig 3 `is a sectional viewin `the direction ofrthe i arrows ongthe line 3-3 ofFig. 2;` n

`Fig. 4 is a perspective View oftheupper portion of a cigarette package showing the `project` ing flaps 'of a wrapper having slits formed therein by means of my improved apparatus; and

Fig. 5.is a view of a package with a Wrapper wrapped around the side and bottom thereof `and projecting beyond the top. I

My devicefor slitting wrappers .may be. used in connection With many different types of Wrapping` machines.

However, I have kfound that it can be conveniently incorporated` `in the ,type

45 `25 through the'vertical folding chute `26. The

chine. The main drive shaft 2I is in` turn driven by means of a sprocket chain 22' connected ,to some suitable driving mechanism such as a prime mover or a shaft of the packaging machine which Plunger 8 is normally 23 connected between .the upper end of `arm `9 and` pin vZII `fixed to the frame ofthe machine, andfthe cam I8, follower II, and `connecting f.4'.0-,arms serve` to retract the plungen The cigarette packages E arethus caused to advance through'the guideway 'I `lov `means of the plunger Buntil theyreach the end thereof where theyarefed downwardly by` means of `plungers plungers 25 are supported on cross arms 2'! extending between .a `pair of sprocket chains 28, b which are driven by sprockets29 mounted `upon shaft 30, which is slidablyjournaled in brackets 507supported'on the frame ofthe machine. The

`.shaft `3D supporting the sprocketsi29 is con--k wardly from the top of plunger 49.

nected by means of sprocket chain 3| to shaft 32 which, in turn, is connected by meshing pinions 33 and 34 to shaft 35. Shaft 35, in turn, isV connecied by sprocket chain 36 to the main drive shaft 2| and, through the connections just described, it will be seen that shaft 3G and sprocket chains 28 are operated from the main drive shaft.

As the cigarette packages (5 enter the vertical folding chute 25, the'lower ends thereof engage a Wrapper blank 31, cut to the proper size. When the package is pressed into the folding chute, the wrapper will be forced up around the sides of the package and in the usual manner the wrapper is folded around the sides lof the package. As shown, the folding chute -is provided with type shown in my Patent No. 2,144,448, to which my improved device for forming slits or notches in the wrapper may be applied. I have described and shown sulicient portions of the machine `to illustrate the manner in which the device may be applied to the machine. However, the machine just described does not constitute my present;A

invention, and it should be understood that 'my device may be used in connection with other typesl of Wrapping machines.

In carrying out my invention I have found that? slits may be conveniently formed in the edges of'V one or both of the flaps 55 and 56 at the top of the package 4while `the package is' being fed ducts 38 for supplying an adhesive or solvent c to the ,Wrapper as. it is folded around the package, and with heaters 39 for drying the adhesive or solvent. When the package 6 reaches` machine, and provided at the lower end thereof with a follower 44 whichk engages with cam 45 on the end of shaft I9.4 The plunger 40 is normally held in retractedposition by means of spring 45, connected between the frame and the lower end of arm 4.2. vThe cam 45 causes the arm 42 toY pivot, and plunger 49 toy advance against the resistance of thespring.

As the cigarette package'enters the folding chute 4|, the first operation is the formation of the tucks 4'!v at oppositeends of the top of the package, by means .of the .fixed `tucking plate 48 formed at the beginning `of the folding chute 4|,` 4

and the slidable tucking plate 49 projecting for- The slidable tucking plate 49 is connected to the top ofplunger 40 by' means of` aslotted connection 50 which permits the tucking plate to assume the advance position shown in the drawings, or to be retracted so that the forward edge thereof d'oes not project beyond the front face of the plunger.` The tucking plate is normally held in advance position by means of spring 52, connected betweenpins 53 and 54.

'After the tucks 41 Vhavey thus been formed in 1 the wrapping material at the top of the package.

thepackage is advanced through the horizontal folding chute with thelflaps 55 and 56 projecting upwardly through theslots`51 and 58 on the two sides of top plate 59. kThe wrapper blank is so formed and positionedwith respect tothe package that one flap 55 is preferably shorter than the other flap 55. The shorter flap is first folded down against the `package by means of diagonall slot 60, and thereafter the longer flap 55 is folded down over the shorter nap and over the top of the package by means of oppositely disposed diagonal slot 8|. As in the vertical folding chute, a suitable adhesive or solvent for the wrapper may be applied thereto through duct 62, andthe solvent lor adhesive may be dried by means of `heater63. The fully wrapped packages are then discharged fromthe end of horizontal folding chute 4I.

.The wrapping machine mechanism just de.,-

scribed forms part of a wrapping machine of the `caused to reciprocate and form the slits in the flaps of the wrapper while the package is ternn the driving mechanism of the machine, and are engag and slit theedges of the flaps. cam no longer engages the follower, spring 19 will through the horizontal folding chute 4|. The

mechanismwhich I employ for this purpose in `the illustratedembodiment of my invention con sists of al pair ofy knife blades 64 and 65 disposed above the folding chute 4| on opposite sides thereof adjacent the central portion of the slots 51 andv 58. The knife blades are secured to the ends of arms 66 and `61 which are pivotally` mounted at the points 58 and 69 at their opposite ends to a* bracket 10, attached to the folding 25" chute'. The arms 66 and 61 may' oscilla-te 'towards and away from each other'causing the knife blades 64 andA 65 to traverse the space above the slots ,51` and 58.v In this manner when the flaps 55'and 56 project upwardly through the slots 30 51 and 58, the knife blades cut the edges thereof'. so asto form slits or' notches 1| therein. The` knife blades are so positioned as to engage .the

aps near the upper edge thereof as the slits#` preferably extend to the edges. Since the flap 55 is somewhat longer than the flap 55, blade 65 is positioned above blade B4.

I have found that it is desirable to provide av backing or support for the flaps while they are being cut inthis fashion, and for this purpose I provide1 a block 12 having a central slot 13 in alignment with and adapted to accommodate the lblades 64 and 65 when they are shifted inwardly..`

Block 12 is supported from bracket 14 by means of the screws 15 which extend through the block and engage and also support the plate`59.

Due` to the fact that the cigarette packages are' fed through the* horizontal folding chute 4|-by` means of the reciprocating plunger 40, it will be appreciated that the packages have an intermittent motion.' The knife blades 64 andf65 are porarily in a stationary position. To accomplish this result, the arms 66 and 61 are connected to synchronized with the plunger 4 0. Thus it will be vseen that the arm 51 is provided with a small bracket 1S supporting at the end thereof a fol- 60,*1ower in the form of a roller 11 which isheld in engagement with cam 18 by means of spring 19 connected between the bracket, and the frame of the machine. The cam 18yis preferably attached to the hub of sprocket 8|)l whichV engages 'the l,sprocket chain 3|. Thus, when shaft 3|) rotates,

cam 18 engages folle-'Wer 11 once during eachl revolution of the shaft causing arm |1'toy oscillate. l

Oscillation of arm 51 causes asimilar oscillation of arm 6G duev tothe interengagement between' toothed segmentl ,formed on one end o'farm 55,

and toothed segment 82, formed on the end p01' Thus it will be seen that when the cam engages the follower, both arms` together with l arm 51.

their knife blades willbe forced inwardly so as to When the return the arms tothe position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The movement of arms Bland 66 is coordinated with `the reciprocation of plunger 40, and

`this canbe readily accomplished because both the arms and the plunger are connected by drivling mechanism to the primary drive shaft 2l.

The gearing and sprocket chain connections,` shown in the illustrated embodiment, are of a one-to-one ratio so that there will be one revolution of shaft for each reciprocation of plunger 4D. Cam 18 is so arranged as to engage follower 'il `when a cigarette package is in a stationary positionwith flaps projecting upwardlyI through the slots 51 and 58, and in engagement with the block `'12. To accomplish this, cam 18 must engageits follower 'l1 after the dwell portion of cam 56 hasreleased its engagementwith follower 44.

`After the'slits `or notches 1l have `beenformed in the flaps of the package. the package is again intermittently` advanced through `the folding chute with the result that flap 55 is foldeddown-f wardly, adhesive oraLsolvent is applied to the upper surface thereof, and thereafter flap 56 is having a folding chute for wrapping sheet material partially around an article so as to leave two flaps projecting from one surface thereof and asecond folding chute for folding the flaps against the article in superimposed relationship:

of a device for `forming slits or notches in the` projecting flaps before they are foldedagainst s "the article to facilitate fracturing of the flaps,

said device comprising a pairof cutter "blades, a

pair of arms supporting the blades and pivotally mounted adjacent the second folding chute so i that thebladesmay be shifted into and out of i engagement with the projecting flaps of an article positioned adjacent thebeginning of the second folding' chute, means for supporting saidV projecting flaps comprising a block,` a slot in said i Iblock `adapted to register in said blades and folded downwardlyon flap 55 and the adhesive is dried. The completed package is then discharged fromv the machine. Thereafter when it is desired to open the package, it will be seen that the removal of the wrapper, or of the upper portion thereof, is facilitated due to the fact that the tearing of the wrapper may be initiated from one or both of the slits 1l. 1

From the foregoing description of the illuschine having an improved device for `forming slits or notches in one or more of the edges of `thewrapping material while it is being wrapped around the package. It should be appreciated,`

of course, that modifications may be` made in the trates embodiment of my invention, it will `te appreciated that I have provided a wrapping maillustrated and described embodiment of my invention, such as incorporating the device for slittingthe wrapping material in a different type `of wrapping machine.

Each of the terms slit and notch, -as used herein and as used in the appended claims, is i intended to havea broad generic meaning, designating `any type of cut, tear or fracture formed in the sheet wrapping material, and the expres-` sions are not intended to be limited to any specific y form `of cut, tear or fracture.`

I claim: 1. A wrapping machine comprising means for wrapping sheet material partially around an article so as to provide two projecting flaps ad-` jacent one end thereof, means `f or slitting each of the flaps so that they maybe readily fractured,means for supporting said flaps while they7 `are being slitted, said means comprising a block having a slot position between said aps and means for thereafter folding and securing the flaps downwardly against the article in superimposed relationship.

2. The combination with a wrapping machine means for causing the reciprocal pivotingiof the` arms tocause the blades to engage and form slits in theiprojectingflaps of the article.

3.A In combinationiwith a wrapping machine` which folds sheetl material around an article and at one stage presents two projecting opposed sealing flaps at one end thereof, a device for slitting said flaps while in their projecting position,

said device including arms mounted for movement, av cutter blade on each arm, means con- `nectedrwith one of said arms to operate it in timed accord with the folding operations, and coacting means on said arms 'to cause them to operate in unison to cause each blade to perform" the slitting aforesaid, said coacting means consistingof toothed segments.

4. In combination with a `wrapping machine which folds sheet material around an articleand at one stage presents two `projecting opposed sealing flaps at one end thereof, a device for slit`` ting said flaps while in their projecting position,` said device including arms mountedfor movement, a cutter blade oneach arm, means connected with one of said arms to operate it in e s timed accord with the folding operations, and coacting means on said arms to causethem to `operate in unison tocause each blade to perform theslitting aforesaid, one of said blades disposed above the Iother to cup flaps respectively of different lengths.

5. In combination with ya wrapping machine which folds sheet material around an article and at one stage presents two projecting opposed sealing aps at one end thereof, `a device forslittng said flaps while in their projecting position, said device including arms mounted for movement, a

cutter blade on each arm, means connected with s one ofsaid arms to operate itin `timed accord with the folding operations, and coacting means on said arms `to cause themto operate in unison` to cause each blade to perform the slitting aforesaid, one of said blades disposed above the other` to cut flaps respectively of different length and a` supporting block having a slot therein disposed between said ilaps to support saidflaps and to allow the passage of said blades. i

ROBERT ROLAND BRIGHTWELL. 

